LONDON.- David Messum Fine Art presents an exhibition of 61 paintings by the British artist, Matthew Alexander, one of the most widely recognised and dynamic plein air painters working on the East coast today.

Known for his dramtic land and seascapes, Matthew invites viewers to experience the world from his perspective, revealing the beauty and theatre of the Kentish and East coast. With a deep-rooted connection to his home in Kent, Matthews paintings demonstrate a profound grasp of light, colour, and emotion, influenced by both artistic tradition and personal experiences.

Marking his return to the West End since 2005, this exhibition takes viewers on a visual journey from Matthew’s childhood home on the Isle of Thanet along the Southeast Coast. From the towns of Broadstairs and Margate to the tranquil vistas of the Isle of Sheppey and Faversham, and onward to Felixstowe Ferry and Woodbridge, his art captures the essence of each locale. His evident free- wheeling enjoyment in the face of broad East Anglian skies, buffeting winds, beaches and dunes, is palpable: obvious in the quick dashes of fresh colour, the confident translation of natural forms into brisk marks – the artist immersing himself in these peculiarly English places. Meanwhile, his pastoral scenes around the Stour River and the Norfolk Broads pay homage to the great Norfolk school of artists with distinctive modern sensibility, his marine paintings, executed from his boat, demonstrate how the sky and sea combine to produce stunning light effects.

Within the liminal space of the coast, the drama of the sky unfolds as Matthew skilfully captures the region’s unique light effects. Each painting illustrates those fleeting moments when land, sea, and sky converge in breath-taking harmony, enlightening viewers to immerse themselves in the rapturous beauty of nature.

Born in Margate, Kent, in 1953, Matthew studied at Canterbury and Maidstone Colleges of Art before completing postgraduate studies in London. He held his first exhibition in 1975 at the Library Art Gallery in Margate, alongside his brother and father, the artist and teacher Christopher Alexander. Following his first solo show in 1981, he became a member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1984. He has exhibited widely in the UK, Europe and America, and his work is held in several major public and corporate collections.